2015

The Commission assumes an investment gap in the EU, as investments have fallen in the EU by 15% since 2007. Consequently, it wants to mobilise investments in the EU amounting to € 315 billion by creating a European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

2015

The European Council calls for the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to be developed to the main European instrument to prevent climate change. The cep examines how an extension of the EU ETS, for example on the road transport sector, can induce effective and efficient climate protection. It is straightforward that an extension of the EU ETS using the upstream approach can be implemented and is preferable to regulatory climate change measures.

2015

The Commission wants to combat unfair trading practices in the food supply chain. It wants to examine the effectiveness of the voluntary Supply Chain Initiative (SCI) and encourage more companies and associations to join. In addition, the exchange of information about national legislation to combat unfair trading practices between the Member States will be improved. The authorities responsible for implementing national legislation will work together "effectively". The Commission wants to assess the progress of national implementation measures.

2015

The cep traces the development of the principle of subsidiarity and demonstrates that to date – five years after entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty – the principle of subsidiarity has failed to limit the exercise of power. It then offers five suggestions on how to strengthen the principle of subsidiarity in the EU.

2015

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker would like to revise the rules on the immigration to the EU of highly qualified employees from non-EU states to cope with the global competition for the cleverest minds. The Blue Card Directive forms the central pillar of EU law on the immigration of highly qualified people to the EU from non-EU countries. Therefore, the cep considers whether the provisions on the Blue Card should be revised and offers four concrete recommendations for action.

2015

The European Council has agreed on the following key targets for the future climate and energy policy of the European Union for the period from 2021 to 2030: (1) to reduce the EU’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 40% relative to 1990 levels; (2) to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 27% of overall EU energy consumption; (3) to reduce projected energy consumption by 27%; (4) to increase the level in each Member State of electricity interconnections to other Member States to 15% of their installed production capacity.

2015

By bringing infringement proceedings, the European Commission has increased the pressure on several Member States to transpose into national law the EU requirements for completion of the internal energy market. Member States will, in principle, refrain from state intervention in the internal energy market, with just a few exceptions – such as government support for renewable energy sources.

2015

The Commission wants to improve the enforcement of intellectual property rights. Intellectual property rights, e.g. patents and trademarks, ensure that companies, inventors and creators are able to obtain a return on their investment, inventions and work. In order to improve the enforcement of these rights, the Commission, together with the "European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights", is planning ten non-legislative measures to prevent commercial scale infringements of intellectual property rights.

2015

"Non-road mobile machinery" (NRMM) is currently subject to emission limits which have not been changed since 2004. In the European Commission's view, they no longer correspond to the state of the art. Stricter emission limits will now therefore be adopted in order to protect, in particular, human health and the environment and in order to bring EU requirements into line with those of the USA.